Chapter 103

Chapter 103

It took Yang Tianhua a whole morning to finally get the car back to the county. After sending off the Feng family, he couldn't wait to go home first. His elderly mother had gone out to play cards. Yang Tianhua took a good bath, changed his clothes, and returned to his city-slicker appearance before swinging his car keys and heading to his workplace.

Yang Tianhua's brother-in-law was the county magistrate, and his sister was a classic 'brother enabler,' treated this younger brother as if he were her own lifeblood. She arranged a job for him, bought him a car, got him a house—almost everything he asked for. Even if Yang Tianhua didn't show up for work, no one dared to say a word; they just treated him like a lord.

After making a round at the office, Yang Tianhua considered his work done. With the car keys swinging from his hand, he went to the repair station. The repair station was run by his buddies—actually, they owed their business to his influence. On a daily basis, they looked up to Yang Tianhua as their leader, clung to his coattails.

The men working on the cars all had fierce, thuggish faces. They ran their business tyrannically—this was the only repair station in the county. Usually, when someone's car or a village tractor broke down, they had to come here to get it fixed. But these guys were no pushovers; ordinary folks would get skinned alive every time they came. Those who offended them even had their homes trashed. However, since they had the county magistrate's brother-in-law backing them, no one dared to cross them. 'The magistrate is far away, but the local boss is right here'—they had no choice, they just had to endure.

When the group saw Yang Tianhua arrive, the leader, Biaozi, immediately greeted him with a smile: 'Tianhua, you're here! Don't worry, we'll definitely have this car fixed for you. It'll be ready to drive by tomorrow.'

Yang Tianhua lit a cigarette and waved his hand. The smoke blurred his face as he spoke with a savage edge: 'There's a little girl in Daba Village—Feng Xia from the Feng family. She's fair-skinned and clean-looking. Brothers, any interest in making a trip?'

Biaozi gave an ingratiating laugh: 'If this little girl has offended our Brother Hua, then of course we brothers will pay a visit. But Brother Hua, set the boundaries—how far should we go? We brothers need to know the limits.'

'Do whatever you want, just leave her breathing. This little bitch—I want to make her life worse than death!'

Daba Village, the Feng family courtyard.

Feng Xia directly invited them into the room. From her bundle, she took out two wrapped fountain pens, several bottles of ink, and a stack of notebooks for Yao Hongxia. Then she took out a handful of pencils and erasers for Feng Jinlian and Feng Jingui. The three of them looked at the stationery with sparkling eyes, their noses red with joy. But that wasn't all—Feng Xia also pulled out several workbooks for Wu Hongxia and told her to keep them safe. These were all things Feng Xia had collected from the garbage dump in the capital.

It was now 1974, and soon it would be 1975. She remembered that in 1976, the college entrance examination would be reinstated in the country. She had heard this by chance from an old man during the apocalypse. The old man's family were all highly educated intellectuals, but almost all of them studied history. In the apocalypse, zombies wouldn't spare you just because you were good at history. All the glorious achievements of the old man's early life had become meaningless. These stories could only be told as bedtime tales to Feng Xia and the others.

Feng Xia didn't know why she had subconsciously remembered this at the time. She only knew that these years seemed very important to her. Perhaps it was fate.

Wu Hongxia carefully put away the books, her eyes completely red. She wanted to ask but didn't have the courage. Feng Xia held her hand and said, 'Trust me, the dawn is coming. It will be here soon. Just hold on a little longer.' At those words, Wu Hongxia burst into tears, sobbing uncontrollably as she hugged the books. 'It's here, it's finally here!'

After seeing off Wu Hongxia, Feng Xia urged the two sisters, Feng Jinlian and Feng Jingui, not to slack off in their studies. Using herself as an example, she told them about the importance of learning—with knowledge comes wealth. They must persist in studying. The two sisters nodded firmly and secretly resolved to study even harder.

It wasn't until the afternoon that the Feng family returned. Their faces were full of joy, as if they had accomplished some great feat. Feng Xia was speechless.

She was especially speechless with Feng Chun, especially after Feng Chun shot her two disdainful, contemptuous glances. Feng Xia didn't even want to look at her.

Does this person have a screw loose or what!

Feng Chun had been reborn and used some underhanded methods to get herself into the supply and marketing cooperative. Feng Xia could still praise her for that—good tactics. After all, getting into the cooperative was a good thing. But now she was completely dizzy over a man, and such a worthless one at that. Feng Xia was truly speechless.

She already knew the general direction of the future, and she had gotten into the cooperative and earned some initial capital. You know, the year 1980 was an era of gold everywhere! With her knowledge of the future, Feng Chun could easily start a small business and make big money! Why did she have to rely on a man who offered nothing but empty promises? What had a man ever given her!

Feng Xia didn't understand. Feng Xia was confused. Feng Xia was speechless.

Feng Xia even felt it was pointless to scold Feng Chun. Forget it, let her do whatever she wants!

A few more days passed. Daba Village grew colder and colder. The ice on the outdoor water vats was thick. Every household was preparing for the New Year. The village was often filled with the smell of cooking oil and delicious food, making the children of every family drool and squeal. Feng Xia had completely settled into a life of being fed—her little face had become rounder. She didn't go out, staying cooped up at home all day to hibernate, very lazy. Even Zhang Ying had gained a couple of pounds. Honestly, the New Year was really joyful!

As for the little black snake, it absorbed the energy Feng Xia transmitted to it every day and had to go out for a few rounds, otherwise its whole body would feel uncomfortable. This completely went against the hibernation habit of snakes, which made Zhang Ying very curious. She even started a research journal for it, carefully recording Little Black's daily activities, food, and living conditions.

Early on the morning of the 28th of the twelfth lunar month, the little black snake went out for a stroll and came back. Its forked tongue flickered as it transmitted a message to its master.

'You say that group of people has come again? Seven or eight of them, lurking near the back mountain of our house?'

The little black snake nodded. Feng Xia stroked her chin in thought. This group had come for the third time now. The first time was about fifteen days ago—the day after Yang Tianhua came here. The second time was five days ago, and today was the third.

She guessed this was Yang Tianhua's doing. Yang Tianhua was a narrow-minded person. Last time he lost both face and dignity—how could he not come back for revenge? Feng Xia had been waiting for them. You can't keep watch forever. Since these people didn't dare to come to the door and take the initiative, she would give them an opportunity.

Feng Xia slowly stretched, changed into a set of practical clothes, told Zhang Ying she was going up the back mountain for a walk, and was about to leave. Zhang Ying wanted to follow, but Feng Xia stopped her. She was on the first day of her period and quite miserable with pain. Feng Xia made her stay home, prepared some brown sugar water for her to drink, and told her to lie down. Then she turned around and disappeared at the foot of the mountain.

Biaozi had come to Daba Village three times with his brothers. That little girl almost never left the house.